Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak (1990)

Dina Bonnevie plays a former movie actress who is kidnapped, raped and later installed as mistress of a powerful mayor (Eddie Garcia). As the election season nears, Dina becomes a political liability to the mayor, so, egged on by his wily, domineering wife Charo Santos, he tries to get rid of her.

Meanwhile, Dina seeks the release of her former boyfriend, Christopher de Leon, who is serving a term at the National Penitentiary. While the mayor agrees to get him out, he orders his henchmen to plot the assassination of a left-lean¬ing political opponent - with Christopher as gunman. It is a practice believed to be common in our penal system and corrupt political order.

Having accomplished his mission, Christopher becomes the mayor's next target - along with Dina. Thanks to Dina's new-found friends - William Lorenzo, Allan Paule, Francis Magalona and Timothy Diwa - she is able to reverse Charo's and Eddie's plan.

For a supposedly "commercial" film feature, "Gumapang Ka Sa Lusak" takes up pervasive social problems in the Philippines - power play and the evil of politics and politicians.

It is a roman a clef on the former dictatorship and its evil legacy on Philippine society. A well-photographed, well- acted dramatic thriller. — Butch Francisco, Philippine Star